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The Monitor
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Vol 5, Issue 2 – Summer 2010
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT No. 1078
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy And Prepared Communities!
In This Summer 2010 Issue:
FRONT PAGE
MRC Responds to the Perfect Storm...........................................................................................................Pages 1-2
MRC PARTNERS’ POINTS
Local News from MRC Partners...................................................................................................................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
Volunteer Appreciation................................................................................................................................... Page 4
Medieval Fair in Norman............................................................................................................................... Page 5
VITAL STEPS
Find OKMRC on Facebook............................................................................................................................ Page 6
FRIENDS IN FOCUS
Veteran OKMRC Volunteers Nominated for National Recognition............................................................... Page 6
MRC TRAINING
Training Information....................................................................................................................................... Page 7
For more information please visit the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps Web site at okmrc.org
The MRC Monitor is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
Perfect Storm Conditions Trigger
20+ OklahomaTornadoes
On May 10th, a major storm system exited the central and southern
Rockies, drawing very warm, moist and unstable air northward from the Gulf
of Mexico into the Southern and Central Plains.
“This severe thunderstorm event was a well advertised one, with data
showing several days in advance that many factors would come together to
create a potentially dangerous weather situation across much of the Southern
Plains during the afternoon and evening hours of the 10th,” said Robert
Darby, senior forecaster and meteorologist at National Weather Service,
Tulsa. “These ingredients combined with strong atmospheric winds favored
widespread severe thunderstorms.”
Darby explained that as storms formed in northern Oklahoma and in the
southwest, they rapidly became severe and developed rotation, evolving into
a supercell. These storms moved very quickly east to northeast, producing
destructive hail and strong winds. Several of these storms produced
tornadoes, with some long-track tornadoes meaning a long-lasting tornado
with a continuous damage path, he said.
Wind speeds in tornadoes range from values below that of weak hurricane
speeds to more than 300 miles per hour. Unlike hurricanes, which produce
wind speeds of generally lesser values over relatively widespread areas
(when compared to tornadoes), the maximum winds in tornadoes are
often confined to extremely small areas and can vary tremendously over
very short distances, even within the funnel itself. The tales of total
destruction of one house next to one that is completely undamaged are
true and well-documented, Darby said.
The afternoon of May 10th, 2010, stands as a historically significant severe
weather event across central and eastern Oklahoma. Severe thunderstorms
and several tornadoes tore through much of eastern Oklahoma and portions
of northwest Arkansas during the afternoon and evening hours. Hail stones
as large as baseballs were reported, and numerous tornadoes touched down
just east of Osage County and along the I-40 corridor from Okfuskee County
eastward to Sequoyah County. Surveys show at least two EF-4 tornadoes
struck just east of Oklahoma City with an estimated 20+ tornadoes altogether.
“It was the perfect combination of factors and timing to generate
widespread severe thunderstorms with tornadoes later that day,” according
to Meteorologist Scott Stephens from National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. “Tornadoes are possible any
time of year in Oklahoma, although the most favorable months are March
through June. Although this was a significant and noteworthy tornado outbreak,
there have been many similar outbreaks in the historical record in this region.”
Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of emergency in many counties after
the first storms hit. According to the state Department of Emergency
Management, the May 10-11 storms damaged nearly 1,500 homes and
businesses, including 282 that were destroyed. Gov. Henry also asked the
White House to approve a major disaster declaration for 15 counties impacted
in the first round of a series of violent storms that left two dead and hundreds
of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.
“The tornadoes that wreaked havoc on May 10th is a great example of why
the Oklahoma Homeland Security and the OKMRC are working so diligently
to promote the Red Dirt Ready Campaign,” said Kendal Darby, OKMRC State
Administrator. “It focuses on getting Oklahomans to not only be prepared for
emergencies but also be ready to reach out to others when disaster strikes.
This isn’t a new concept, it’s called the Oklahoma Standard. Born from
tragedy it quickly became known throughout the world as having the strength,
compassion and resilience to overcome any adversity” said Darby. “Red dirt is
a geographic icon for our state and serves as a symbol” said Kerry Pettingill,
Oklahoma Homeland Security Director. “Our goal is to make sure everyone,
young and old, is educated on how to prepare for and respond appropriately
in an emergency.”

The Monitor
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Vol 5, Issue 2 – Summer 2010
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT No. 1078
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy And Prepared Communities!
In This Summer 2010 Issue:
FRONT PAGE
MRC Responds to the Perfect Storm...........................................................................................................Pages 1-2
MRC PARTNERS’ POINTS
Local News from MRC Partners...................................................................................................................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
Volunteer Appreciation................................................................................................................................... Page 4
Medieval Fair in Norman............................................................................................................................... Page 5
VITAL STEPS
Find OKMRC on Facebook............................................................................................................................ Page 6
FRIENDS IN FOCUS
Veteran OKMRC Volunteers Nominated for National Recognition............................................................... Page 6
MRC TRAINING
Training Information....................................................................................................................................... Page 7
For more information please visit the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps Web site at okmrc.org
The MRC Monitor is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
Perfect Storm Conditions Trigger
20+ OklahomaTornadoes
On May 10th, a major storm system exited the central and southern
Rockies, drawing very warm, moist and unstable air northward from the Gulf
of Mexico into the Southern and Central Plains.
“This severe thunderstorm event was a well advertised one, with data
showing several days in advance that many factors would come together to
create a potentially dangerous weather situation across much of the Southern
Plains during the afternoon and evening hours of the 10th,” said Robert
Darby, senior forecaster and meteorologist at National Weather Service,
Tulsa. “These ingredients combined with strong atmospheric winds favored
widespread severe thunderstorms.”
Darby explained that as storms formed in northern Oklahoma and in the
southwest, they rapidly became severe and developed rotation, evolving into
a supercell. These storms moved very quickly east to northeast, producing
destructive hail and strong winds. Several of these storms produced
tornadoes, with some long-track tornadoes meaning a long-lasting tornado
with a continuous damage path, he said.
Wind speeds in tornadoes range from values below that of weak hurricane
speeds to more than 300 miles per hour. Unlike hurricanes, which produce
wind speeds of generally lesser values over relatively widespread areas
(when compared to tornadoes), the maximum winds in tornadoes are
often confined to extremely small areas and can vary tremendously over
very short distances, even within the funnel itself. The tales of total
destruction of one house next to one that is completely undamaged are
true and well-documented, Darby said.
The afternoon of May 10th, 2010, stands as a historically significant severe
weather event across central and eastern Oklahoma. Severe thunderstorms
and several tornadoes tore through much of eastern Oklahoma and portions
of northwest Arkansas during the afternoon and evening hours. Hail stones
as large as baseballs were reported, and numerous tornadoes touched down
just east of Osage County and along the I-40 corridor from Okfuskee County
eastward to Sequoyah County. Surveys show at least two EF-4 tornadoes
struck just east of Oklahoma City with an estimated 20+ tornadoes altogether.
“It was the perfect combination of factors and timing to generate
widespread severe thunderstorms with tornadoes later that day,” according
to Meteorologist Scott Stephens from National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. “Tornadoes are possible any
time of year in Oklahoma, although the most favorable months are March
through June. Although this was a significant and noteworthy tornado outbreak,
there have been many similar outbreaks in the historical record in this region.”
Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of emergency in many counties after
the first storms hit. According to the state Department of Emergency
Management, the May 10-11 storms damaged nearly 1,500 homes and
businesses, including 282 that were destroyed. Gov. Henry also asked the
White House to approve a major disaster declaration for 15 counties impacted
in the first round of a series of violent storms that left two dead and hundreds
of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.
“The tornadoes that wreaked havoc on May 10th is a great example of why
the Oklahoma Homeland Security and the OKMRC are working so diligently
to promote the Red Dirt Ready Campaign,” said Kendal Darby, OKMRC State
Administrator. “It focuses on getting Oklahomans to not only be prepared for
emergencies but also be ready to reach out to others when disaster strikes.
This isn’t a new concept, it’s called the Oklahoma Standard. Born from
tragedy it quickly became known throughout the world as having the strength,
compassion and resilience to overcome any adversity” said Darby. “Red dirt is
a geographic icon for our state and serves as a symbol” said Kerry Pettingill,
Oklahoma Homeland Security Director. “Our goal is to make sure everyone,
young and old, is educated on how to prepare for and respond appropriately
in an emergency.”